22 minute read
Boise Airport chapel: Ministering to many
RISING on the wings Boise Airport chapel ministers to many
By Steve Bertel
“I was really hurting. … struggling inside. I felt like a failure. I wanted to give up my life. I wanted to commit suicide. … In fact, I was thinking about it. A lot,” the woman says.
She sits in front a video camera, addressing an off-screen interviewer. Soft-spoken, but her words are coming hard. For privacy reasons, we don’t know her last name or her background. We know only that she’s young, attractive …
And that her life was in turmoil. “People look at you and you have a smile. But they don’t know who you are inside. Or what troubles you,” she says.
Fortunately, the woman’s life recently changed for the better when she walked through a certain chapel door. “When I first walked in, it was quiet. The pastor was there to greet me. And I felt a quiet grace … and love. (At that particular time in my life), I felt lost and alone. So I needed that love. I really needed that.”
But this isn’t just any chapel she’s talking about.
This chapel is an unobtrusive little room, some 10 x 18 feet … tucked away between the Avis and Dollar Rent-a-Car customer service counters on the lower level of the Boise Airport.
The woman is one of countless people who have come through the doors of the chapel looking for solace, peace, or simply wanting to spend a quiet moment or two with God … and finding an understanding pastor graciously willing to sit down, talk, and pray with them.
For the past 15 years, that understanding pastor has been Warren Milanowski – “Ski”, to his friends – a man well familiar with the often-fast-paced airport and travel environments. He worked for Delta Airlines for 39 years and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for another five. Then, shortly after he retired in 2002, he attended Workplace Ministry Training at the Fellowship of Christian Airline Personnel (FCAP) headquarters in Fayetteville, Georgia. Founded in the early-’70s, FCAP is national non-profit group encouraging Christians in the airlines/aviation industry to help use their unique workplace as a mission field.
Eighteen months later, after achieving Field Staff status with the organization, “ … God started me thinking about doing something else with my life,” Milanowski recalls. “I really believe He laid it on my heart to start the chapel.” So he discussed the plans with his pastor at the time, Orvil Stiles of Second Baptist Church in Boise (now Summit Church). And, as Milanowski puts it, “He actually said, ‘You need to have a chapel in the Airport and you need to be the chaplain.’ At first, I resisted that idea because I didn’t have any formal training – I didn’t finish college. But then, I started talking with businessmen and pastors who were involved in other local ministries and got very positive feedback.”
On August 1, 2007, the chapel opened its doors, backed with support from FCAP, various funding avenues and, of course, Boise Airport administrators.
Today, as the Airport’s chaplain, Milanowski is quick to point out that, “A lot of people, especially those coming here from the West Coast, are very surprised to see not only a chapel at the airport – although the Portland and Seattle airports both have chapels – but to come in and see one that’s obviously Christian. We’re unique in that sense. Plus, some of the other airport chapels in the country are pretty stark; there’s nothing to indicate any particular faith.”
Though primarily Christian, the chapel is officially interfaith/non-denominational, evidenced by the Book of Mormon and the Koran also being available among all of its Christianbased literature. The chapel is open to – and used by – people of all faiths; even Muslim travelers have been known to come in, roll out their prayer rugs, and pray facing Mecca. “We welcome everybody,” Milanowski states. “We’re happy to have conversations with anyone, believers and non-believers.”
Entering the chapel, one immediately senses the combined quietness of a reading room and the tranquility of a doctor’s office lobby: comfortable chairs, bookcases filled with life-affirming reading materials, a video monitor offering an array of serene scenes … along with, of course, a Ten Commandments tapestry, open Bibles, Our Daily Bread devotionals, a figurine display depicting the Last Supper, and an apropos wall poster that reminds everyone of Psalm 139:9-10, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” “I like those verses because, reading the term ‘wings of the dawn’, you could picture an airplane … and as for ‘if I settle on the far side of the sea’, well, people could leave Boise in the morning and be on the opposite side of the world in a day or less. So it’s a good reminder that God is with them, wherever they go,” Milanowski points out.
In fact, one traveler commented, “Every time I come to Boise, I come to this chapel to grieve and celebrate. I’m so grateful for your prayers. You have gotten me through so much.” Another added, “The first time I walked (into the chapel), I felt somebody patting me on the back, going ‘I’m glad you came in.’ And it was Jesus.” And still another was grateful for “… the beauty and peaceful feeling in this place. Surely it is Holy ground.”
Over the years since the chapel first opened, the Airport has been under the leadership of three directors and two interim directors. And, as Milanowski emphasizes, “We’ve been really blessed in that we have not had any negative input from any of the airport administrators about what we do in the chapel. We’ve had no push-back at all.”
Boise Airport Communication and Marketing Manager Shawna Samuelson is quick to “sing the praises”, as she put it, of the Airport’s chapel. “We value their partnership and greatly appreciate the support they provide passengers, employees and tenants. The chapel has assisted those impacted by illness and has been supportive of employees who have experienced financial hardships – including during the 2018 federal government shutdown when employees at the TSA and FAA were not paid for multiple pay periods, and the chapel was able to help provide assistance to those who needed it,” she points out.
Working with the United Way and the Boise Police Department (which has a security office at the terminal), the chapel also provides emergency items – gift cards, personal care items, and the like – for travelers in need, particularly those who find themselves stranded at the Airport due to long layovers or cancelled flights. They even recently helped a woman and her several children who were escaping an abusive relationship. “She had missed her flight. She had no money, no one to call, so we helped her out,” Milanowski says.
The chapel itself is open 24/7. But it’s not always staffed. Milanowski works three days a week, roughly six hours a day
(from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.); his six-year chapel partner, retired pastor and fellow Airport Chaplain Doug Human, fills in other hours, as do a handful of volunteers. The chapel is also staffed for a short time every Sunday morning, for focused prayer time. “On those days, the Airport (administration) allows us to make PA announcements to everyone in the building, inviting them to come,” Milanowski says.
Of course, as the Treasure Valley grows, so does the Boise Airport. Currently, some 4,000 people work at the terminal, including those employed by airlines, car rental agencies, concessions, parking providers, and the TSA. What’s more, the Airport sees about 10,000 passengers arriving and departing each day – jumping to some 12,000 during peak travel seasons. So that means a lot of people to minister to.
But Milanowski is not content with simply sitting in the chapel, reading his Bible, and hoping someone will eventually walk in, especially since the chapel is sort of off the beaten path. So, for about two hours every shift, he and other chapel volunteers – each wearing their authorized Airport ID and a big yellow button that reads “Need Prayer? Ask Me” – simply stroll through the concourse, the baggage claim area, employee
break rooms, and even outside where taxis are waiting to pick up passengers, casually approaching those who appear to be in need, be they travelers, flight crews, or airport personnel. “We don’t interrupt workers who are in the middle of their jobs, of course, but we walk around talking with folks, encouraging them, passing out Scriptures (for those willing to take one), even praying with them on occasion,” Milanowski explains. The chapel team also hosts annual barbeques or breakfasts specifically for airport workers “… which gives us more of a chance to meet with and build relationships with them,” he points out. But working in a fastpaced, ever-changing travel environment like the Boise Airport – where most of the people Warren “Ski” you see are striding along, pulling their spinMilanowski ner luggage behind them – often makes it difficult to establish long-term relationships, especially with new believers. Shifts change every six months, workers transfer, retire, move on. So regretfully, Milanowski says, “We sometimes don’t get a chance to disciple with them over time as much as we would like.” Continued on page 11
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Warren Milanowski, Boise Airport Chapel email: fcapboi@gmail.com 208-371-8569 www.BoiseAirportChapel.org
CHOOSING to Love God-like love always endures all things
By Daniel Bobinski
This column brings an end to my series on agape love. Over the past 2.5 years I’ve used this space to explore the four powerful verses of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. With this installment, we are completing the series.
The reason I took so long to explore a mere four verses is because they are not just four mere verses. In this passage of Scripture, Paul elaborates on the verb agape used by Jesus in Matthew 22 when He was asked to identify the greatest commandment. Jesus answered the question by saying, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
And then our Lord said, “All the law and all the prophets hang on these two commands.”
If you would like to read previous installments in this series, visit https://www.christianlivingmag.com/columns/ and then enter my name in the search bar.
The Greek word in this final installment is about “hanging in there.” The word is hypomenõ (phonetic: hoop-om-en’-o), and every popular biblical translation except the NIV assigns the word “endures” here. The NIV uses “perseveres.” The word means, “To remain, to tarry (stay) behind.” It also means to persevere and endure, to bear ill treatments bravely and calmly.
God Is Our Example. When we remember that God is love (agape), it’s easy to see this aspect of God’s love in His behavior toward us. Most certainly, He “hangs in there,” remaining and persevering to draw us back toward Him despite our ill treatment of Him – not to mention all the grief Satan gives Him. After Adam and Eve disobeyed the one command they were given, it would have been easy for God to say, “Well, you messed up. I warned that you would die if you ate that fruit, and now you’re going to die. Too bad, so sad.”
Instead, God has been demonstrating His love by enduring.
Love the Lord. There are days when I want my time on earth to be done. So much sin surrounds us – not only the crimes we see occurring between and among the other people who inhabit this planet, but also the corruption and injustices perpetrated by those working in our government. Some days I say, “God, you can take me home today and I won’t mind a bit.” But I also then say, “Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done.” The simple fact that I’m still here tells me that God has a purpose for me being here – that He has things He wants me to do.
And so, despite all the bad things happening to people all around me, and despite the ill treatment I receive from others, I remain behind, holding fast to my faith in Christ. I love the Lord, and I trust that He knows better than me regarding what I’m supposed to be doing and the optimal time for my departure.
God doesn’t treat me poorly, but this sinfilled planet in which He has me is not my first choice. Still, I choose to endure for Him as calmly and as bravely as possible. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself. As I wrap up this series on agape love, I wish to remind the reader that “love your neighbor as yourself” is better understood as, “Love your neighbor in the same way as you love yourself.” As much as some folks don’t like to believe it, this means we need to love ourselves! For this we can also turn to Ephesians 5:29: “After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they Daniel Bobinski feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church.” Interestingly, the passage in which Jesus lays out the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40) aligns with “the golden rule” which is found in Matthew 7:12. That verse reads, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” In both places Jesus says the actions sum up the Law and the Prophets, and in both places He says we should treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated. All of this requires introspection on our parts. Each of us must think how we want to be treated, and then we should strive to treat others the same way. In the case of hypomenõ (love always endures), I think this includes considering our own sin nature. When we make mistakes, don’t we want those around us to remain? To tarry behind? To stick with us, even if we’ve said or done something that hurt them? And if we look at this from the other direction, having Godly relationships means we need to “hang in there” with people who hurt us unintentionally. People’s sin natures will influence their words and actions, but if we are striving to live a life of agape love, we endure ill treatments bravely and calmly. Does this mean we should become doormats to those who continue to walk on us, despite our best efforts to communicate the problem? My answer is, “No.” In my opinion, people who continue to mistreat us and show no genuine remorse for doing so despite being informed of the problem should not be given carte blanche to continue their abuse. I have no doubt some will want to debate this point, so just know my answer is, “Every situation is unique, and should be taken to the Lord.” In closing this series, let me say this: I truly believe that if every Christian regularly studies these attributes of agape love and asks the Holy Spirit to manifest these traits into our daily lives, we will have a much easier time living a life of agape love. Until next time – be blessed. n Daniel Bobinski, Th.D., is an award-winning and bestselling author and a popular speaker at conferences and retreats. Reach him at danielbobinski@protonmail.com or (208) 375-7606.
Continued from page 9
The chapel receives no government or airport funds; it’s entirely supported by donations from the Boise community and local churches, including Boise’s Summit Church, the Cloverdale Church of God, and the Eagle Nazarene Church, among others. Additional grant money has come from the Harold E. and Phyllis S. Thomas Foundation, established in 1995 by Harold Thomas, a Christian businessman and former CEO of Trus Joist International, a billion-dollar engineering and manufacturing firm headquartered in Boise. The Foundation awards grants for Christian evangelical work. “They’ve really been instrumental in keeping the chapel open,” Milanowski points out.
Today, at 79, Milanowski has no immediate plans to slow down. But he’s been entertaining the idea. “I know there will come a time when I’ll have to retire – again,” he says. “So I’ve really been praying about it. And while I’m letting God decide the timing of that, I realize the wisdom of having someone lined up if something would happen that would cause me to be unable to continue. As for now, though, I have no sense of God saying it is time to leave the ministry.”
You can learn more about the chapel … and watch the video testimony of the woman we profiled at the beginning of this article … at its website: https://boiseairportchapel.org. Or, if you feel led by the Lord to volunteer your time and ministerial talents at the chapel, you can contact Milanowski at (208) 371-8569 or at fcapboi@gmail.com. n Steve Bertel is a multi-award-winning professional radio, television, print media, and social media journalist who recently retired after a 30-year broadcasting career. Now a busy freelance writer, he recently released his debut suspense novel “Dolphins of an Unjust Sea”, available on both Amazon and Kindle. Steve and his wife of 40 years live in Meridian, Idaho. He can be reached at stevebertel65@gmail.com.
Benefit concert for Rescue Mission set
Linnie Doyle Ministries will present the 22nd Annual Benefit Concert for the Boise Rescue Mission from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, September 17, at Living Hope Bible Church, 14301 W. McMillan Rd. in Boise. A free dinner will be served at 3 p.m., and a concert will follow.
The two-hour concert program will feature a variety of Christian, southern gospel, and 1950s-style music. Scheduled performers include Linnie Doyle, Obadiah Neasham, Sister’s Promise (a trio), Sharon Rekward, Noah Davis, and others.
Admission is free, but an offering will be taken during the concert.
Rev. Bill Roscoe and Jean Lockhart of the Boise Rescue Mission will be on hand, as well as other BRM staff. One hundred percent of the offering taken that night will go directly to Boise Rescue Mission Ministries.
For more information, contact Linnie Doyle at linniedoyleministries@q.com or (208) 861-8530. n
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By Gary Moore
I’ve been re-reading Shaunti Feldhahn’s book, The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages.
One of the areas of research she pursued was what highly happy couples said they did about conflict at bedtime. Shaunti made this statement and asked three categories of couples – highly happy, mostly happy, and struggling with a question: “Many couples have heard that it’s important to not go to bed mad. When you and your spouse get into an emotional conflict and at bedtime it is still unresolved, how do you actually handle it?”
The habits of highly happy couples were clear: When there is conflict and anger that cannot be easily resolved, the think-about-itovernight option is quite common – and it doesn’t seem to lessen the strength of their marriages at all.
You may be thinking, “Wait a minute.” What about Ephesians 4:26: In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold (NIV)? If you’re a regular church attender, you’ve probably heard that verse quoted more than once. And in your own marriage relationship you may try to practice it. However, as we look at this topic, there’s another verse that I also want us to look at. Psalms 4:4 says, In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent (NIV).
Say what? Each admonition has the same first half but a different second half. One seems to say don’t wait. The other seems to say waiting might be a good idea.
All three categories of couples agreed that resolving anger before bed is a good idea. Yet more than half the time, they go to bed with the conflict unresolved. Why? Because they have found that not trying to fully resolve conflict at bedtime sometimes allowed them needed emotional space and actually helped boost marital happiness. As one spouse put it, “Trying to force it can make it worse when you have two upset, tired people trying to hash something out at three o’clock in the morning.”
Remember the first rule of communication: Until the emotions of the situation are dealt with, the facts don’t matter.
Shaunti says that she frequently sees young couples unintentionally hurting each other or their relationship because they’ve been told it is so dangerous to go to bed mad. So, when it gets late and the argument isn’t resolved, one or both spouses feel panicky about needing to resolve it right now. Or, the next morning they feel so guilty that they didn’t.
The most noteworthy finding by far in her data is the differences among those who said that they go to bed with it unresolved, and it remains unresolved. Her data shows that when the struggling couples go to bed mad (and nearly 94 percent of them do), 41 percent don’t resolve it later. In other words, struggling couples are eight times more likely to say, “Once we go to bed with it unresolved, we tend to just not deal with it later, and it remains unresolved.”
Shaunti concludes that the difference then is not in what couples believe or even do on the evening of the conflict. The difference is what happens later. Just 5% of highly happy
couples let a conflict go unresolved. Yes, they were okay with sleeping on it; but if the disagreement still seemed important the next day, they dealt with it. Said another way, highly happy couples find that when they can’t resolve conflict and anger before bedtime, they choose to sleep on it. If anger remains in the morning, they don’t let it go unresolved; they deal with it. The bottom line seems to be instead of sticking to a rule about anger having to be resolved before a given time of night, the rule the happy couples stuck to was to not let stuff build up Gary Moore that would ultimately make them unhappy with each other later. And, this is another reason to make sure that you are meeting daily to review each other’s day and at least weekly to review your marriage relationship. This is also directly related to the differences in the way men and women handle stress. By definition, when I’m angry I’m stressed out. As we’ve said before, in general, women handle stress by talking about it. For it’s in talking about it that they figure out how they feel about it. Once they know how they feel about it, they can deal with it. Men on the other hand, in general, withdraw when under stress and don’t talk about it until they’ve had a chance to decompress and process the issue mentally. Shaunti says that in all these conversations about processing anger according to biblical guidelines, an important distinction surfaced. Happy couples had discovered the difference between resolving their anger and resolving the issue. In practice, they would try especially hard to talk through or deal with their anger or hurt feelings before bed, even if the issue itself wasn’t resolved. It wasn’t always possible, of course, but even a little bit of forgiveness or reconnection sometimes made a difference. “There’s a difference between resolving your conflict and having anger about it,” one experienced marriage mentor told her. “The biblical principle of ‘do not let the sun go down on your anger’ doesn’t mean we always agree or reach agreement. It’s that we try to not have anger about it – if we can. Because that is where the devil will try to get you.” So, hash it out or sleep on it? As you consider this in your own relationship, take into account your different individual personality types and the male/female differences in handling stress. n Gary Moore served as associate pastor at Cloverdale Church of God for 15 years. He does couples’ coaching and leads couples’ workshops and retreats called MUM’s the Word. He does a weekly radio program called Life Point Plus on KBXL 94.1FM at 8:45 a.m. on Fridays. Monday mornings at 10 a.m. he does live relationship teaching called MUM Live on his Facebook page Mutual Understanding Method. He may be contacted at glmoore113@gmail.com.
